HOUSE, 1 RULE STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 1 Rule Street, is a typical stone and iron single storey cottage dating from the c1905. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area.

Physical Description

House, 1 Rule Street, is a single storey limestone and iron cottage with asymmetrical facade constructed in c1905. Walls are limestone with brick quoins and reveals. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under a separate corrugated iron roof supported by timber posts with timber brackets. Front elevation is asymmetrical with a protruding front room with verandah adjacent. The gable end over the front room is ornamented by a simple turned finial. There is a central front door and a timber framed sash window under the verandah and to the protruding front room with a triple header course lintel over the front window topped by a ventilation grille which is surrounded by brick. There is a painted brick and timber picket fence to the front boundary line. The rear addition is weatherboard clad and sloping ground allows for the addition to be two storey.

History

Originally named Bay Road, Rule Street first appears on an 1873 survey diagram. The change of name was officially gazetted on 14 February 1969, although Bay Road was referred to as Rule Street or Rule Road as early as 1962. The street was named after Charles Rule, who was a North Fremantle councillor from 1948 to 1960 and a Fremantle councillor in 1961/62 and again from 1968 to 1973. Charles Rule was an active member of the North Fremantle community who service on the Fremantle Advisory Committee, was president of the Friendlies Societies Pharmacies for 21 years and was secretary of the North Fremantle Bowling Club. Rule Street is typified by workers cottages, where workers from Burfords Soap Factory, labourers and lumpers lived. In 1980 a $2 million restoration project converted the old soap factory into residential apartments, following the lead of “The Regency” at 47 Rule Street, where four up-market river-front units had been built two years earlier. House, 1 Rule Street was constructed c. 1905. It first appears in the Post Office directories in 1905, when it was occupied by Mrs Mary McGrath. Mrs McGrath continued to live at 1 Rule Street until 1912 when Mr/Mrs Kidman was listed as residing there. In 1913, the place was occupied by Mrs E. Wesbury. By 1918, William T.A. Armstrong was listed as the occupant of 1 Rule Street. A 1939 plan shows 1 Rule Street as a weatherboard house with two large rooms at the front (the rear appears about the size of an average house) and a half-length front verandah. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle. In 1988, the owners of 1 Rule Street were granted permission to demolish part of the rear of the house and construct a two-storey addition.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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